Heidi HoopesSeptember 21, 2015Claws-on with the self-balancing Miposaur robot

MiPosaur is a dino bot on a two-wheeled pendulum that has moods, gestures, a TrackBall with different modes, and an app that adds more functionality (Credit: Heidi Hoopes/Gizmag)

Image Gallery (9 images)

We first saw WowWee's Miposaur robot at the London Toy Fair in January where it was self-balancing on two wheels similar to its older android sibling MiP. We recently tested out this T-rex's new features, which include an indoor GPS system for its TrackBall, a new phone app that extends the robot's abilities, and backwards compatibility with the old MiP to duke it out, virtual-laser-style.

The Miposaur dino bot

To balance and move on two wheels, like a Segway, the Miposaur uses the same inverted pendulum mechanism based on research from the UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab as its predecessor. This feature was so striking in the orginal MiP that one of its games relied solely on its ability to balance while weights were stacked up on its front. The dino, however, is larger, more horizontal than vertical, and for stability can rest back on little plastic heels when not in motion.

Similar to the MiP, the Miposaur responds to 10 predefined hand gestures, such as a user covering its eyes, waving a hand in a circular motion, clapping, or pulling the dino's tail. Three sensors, one for sound and the others in front of and behind the head, control these gestures. Deliberate movement is the key for not getting frustrated controlling the dino in this way, but younger kids may find it hit-and-miss.

The Miposaur also comes with its own toy in the form of a ball to play with. Adding another dimension to the interaction, this independently moving TrackBall has six different modes and features the company's proprietary indoor GPS technology to create a spatial link between dino and its favorite toy. While the ball could roll faster than the dino could keep up, the dino's corrections were quick and accurate.

Some modes, like beatbox mode where the Miposaur will beatbox when in close proximity to the ball, feel like they could get boring quickly, but others are more interesting. For example, leash mode will see the android pet follow someone carrying the ball, while ball mode will see it channel its inner Ronaldo and chase and push the ball around.

While testing our little T. rex, we were impressed by its stability and agility despite its bulk of over a kilogram. Where the original MiP robot refuses to crash into surfaces, the Miposaur doesn't avoid collisions quite as well. However, this matched its "personality" as a manic dinosaur and felt more like aggression than bad navigation. Additionally, it feels durable and, even when we outright dropped it, its tail slotted back on with nary a chip.

We also weren't overly enthused by the robot's sound quality, but the volume is adjustable through the app. While the harsh, rough sounds did match the dinosaur's raging personality, they eventually became a little annoying in the pre-scripted interactions, like its dance music.

The many moods of Miposaur

The robot also features changeable moods, including excited, upset, or curious, which are based off the types of interactions given to it through the app or TrackBall – like virtually feeding it. These cues are more obvious when using the app, where the mood is displayed prominently, but the Miposaur will grumble, growl, get excited, and prance a bit, depending on how it's feeling.

However, the short-lived moods don't affect the play much. The dino does interact differently with its ball and gestures depending on its mood, but we found that a user, especially a kid, could change its mood quickly enough before realizing they were even doing so and miss the feedback they were getting. If you do like the Tamagotchi-style evolving personality, we'd suggest you use the app to get more feedback and be aware the interactions are relatively transient.

Setup

Setup is simple with a simple on/off switch on both devices getting them going. The app connects via Bluetooth LE and we didn't have a problem with creating that connection. However, if you do have more than one MiP or Miposaur, you will need to pay attention to which you're connecting to. While the MiP has its own app, it can still connect with the dino's app as well, minus a few of its functions.

The big and heavy dino uses four AA batteries and the ball takes four AAAs. We got by on one set for a couple hours of play, finally needing to replace them when the firmware update required more battery life. When batteries get low, the robot does get a little wobbly or sluggish.

WowWee does use firmware updates to change the robot itself, requiring the app to install the update. While we tested the Miposaur we received one firmware update and one app update on Android.

Miposaur app adds more ways to play

As with the original MiP, the free app is what really brings out the charms of the Miposaur. Interactions with the TrackBall feel a little scripted compared to the app. For example, the dino can only dance to its own prerecorded toy-like music when using the TrackBall, but through the app a user can pick any music file and a style to see the Miposaur respond in-sync with the beats.

The app also allows Miposaur to turn into a regular radio-controlled (RC) vehicle. The dino behaves differently when under user control, which turns collision detection off. This mode also highlights the difference between balancing and resting, with a button to switch between the two. While resting, the dino is back on its heels and attempting to drive will see it only clumsily steer in circles, but this position is good for taking pictures, resting, or for posing.

However, once balancing in RC mode the dino's controls are responsive and accurate and the dino is fast. What's even more amazing is that putting a good deal of pressure on its tail or nose in order to tip it only makes it shy away. It's extremely difficult to tip this thing over purely with force.

Interaction with the original MiP

One neat feature of the Miposaur is that the MiP android and the dino can face off in battle. Both need to be controlled by a user with the corresponding app, but the battles are pretty well-featured. The user has access to the RC controls, and the dino has a few different attacks, but no ability to turn on a camera to allow the user to line up shots as the MiP is able to do.

The length of battles depends on the driving ability of the participants and how much room they have to navigate in. My battles took about five minutes, becoming shorter and more fun as the drivers got better navigating with the RC controls (the RC controls are responsive and smooth, the drivers not so much).

The battles are primarily virtual like a game of laser tag, with a hit being recognized via the robot's sound effects and actions and also through effects in the app. The dino has a physical "tail sweep" attack that could knock a hapless MiP to the ground, highlighting again an interesting difference between the dino and its predecessor. The dino literally can't fall over, while the MiP seems simultaneously more fragile yet brave. I'm sorry, are we anthropomorphizing again?

You'd like the Miposaur if...

Right now, the Miposaur is posing in my living room, where its novelty has appealed to a few groups of houseguests. Its self-balancing act is definitely a unique crowd-pleaser.

Whether its novelty develops a more lasting appeal depends partially on WowWee. The company has two promised modes coming to a future app update that will offer a storybook mode and a Mipohunt, which seems like a virtual treasure hunt game. While the Miposaur is relatively inexpensive, the app seems the best way for WowWee to ensure that people keep finding a reason to turn the dino back on.

We found that the 6-10 years age group was a sweet spot, where the kids were young enough to be entertained by the silly interactions, but old enough to navigate the app with enough dexterity to engage in battles and RC mode. However, you need not worry that younger children will break the sturdy dino and they likely will engage with the intuitiveness of the TrackBall.

For adults, we find ourselves wondering when the maker community and the commercial toy market will overlap enough to get a programmable toy on a store shelf. An API on the Miposaur would be amazing and would ensure that it wasn't played with few times before being relegated to the bottom of the toy box. However, we haven't seen anything else comparable to its balancing locomotion and sometimes we found ourselves ignoring its extra features simply to watch it move. In that sense, the MiP, with its emphasis on how it balances, might be more of a toy for adults and the dino a winner with the kids.

Overall, the dino's best draws were modes that allowed some creativity and reuse, such as battling, remote control, dancing through the app, and watching the Miposaur endlessly chase its ball. We stalled on a couple of the more scripted modes and weren't thrilled with the sound effects, but especially with upcoming app updates, there's probably something for everyone with the Miposaur.

The Miposaur retails for US$119.99.

Below is WowWee's video detailing some of the features of the MiPosaur.

Product page: WowWee

自動平衡Miposaur機器人

海蒂HoopesSeptember 21，2015Claws上與自平衡Miposaur機器人

MiPosaur是一個恐龍機器人上兩輪擺有情緒，手勢，用不同的模式軌跡球，以及一個應(yīng)用程序，增加了更多的功能（來源：海蒂·胡普斯/ Gizmag）
我們第一次看到WowWee公司的Miposaur機器人在倫敦玩具展在一月份它是自動平衡兩個輪子相似，其較老的Android兄弟MIP。我們最近測試了這款T-Rex的新功能，其中包括它的軌跡球老MIP室內(nèi)GPS系統(tǒng)，一個新的手機應(yīng)用程序，擴展了機器人的能力，并且向下兼容決高下，虛擬激光式。

該Miposaur恐龍機器人
為了平衡，繼續(xù)前進的兩個輪子一樣，賽格威的Miposaur使用基于其前身來自加州大學(xué)圣地亞哥分校坐標(biāo)機器人實驗室的研究相同的倒立擺機制。此功能是如此驚人的原單MIP是它的游戲之一完全依靠它而權(quán)重堆放在其前面的平衡能力。的恐龍，但是，是較大的，不是垂直更多的水平，并為穩(wěn)定性可以休息背面上的小塑料高跟鞋時不運動的物體。

類似于MIP中，Miposaur響應(yīng)10預(yù)定義手勢，如用戶覆蓋眼睛，圓周運動揮手，鼓掌，或拉恐龍的尾巴。三個傳感器，一個用于聲音和其他人的前面和后面的頭，控制這些手勢。故意運動的關(guān)鍵是不感到沮喪以這種方式控制的恐龍，但年輕的孩子可能會發(fā)現(xiàn)，打了小姐。

該Miposaur也有它自己的一球玩的形式玩具。添加另一個層面的互動，這種獨立移動軌跡球有六種不同的模式，并采用該公司專有的室內(nèi)GPS技術(shù)創(chuàng)造的恐龍和心愛的玩具之間的空間聯(lián)系。雖然球會滾動的速度比恐龍能跟上，迪諾的更正是快速，準(zhǔn)確。

一些模式，像口技模式，其中Miposaur將在靠近球表演口技，感覺他們可以得到迅速無聊，但其他人都更有趣。例如，皮帶模式將看到Android的寵物跟隨別人背著球，而球模式將看到它引導(dǎo)其內(nèi)部羅納爾多和追逐和球周圍的推。

在測試我們的小霸王龍，我們被它的穩(wěn)定性和靈活性，盡管其體積超過一公斤留下深刻的印象。凡原MIP機器人拒絕撞上表面的Miposaur不能避免碰撞，以及相當(dāng)。然而，這符合它的“個性”作為一個狂躁的恐龍，感覺更像是攻擊比壞的導(dǎo)航。另外，感覺耐用，即使我們徹底放棄了它，它的尾巴開槽回到上連一個芯片上。

我們也沒有過分的機器人的音質(zhì)熱情，但音量可調(diào)通過應(yīng)用程序。雖然刺耳，粗糙的聲音確實符合恐龍的肆虐個性，他們最終成為在前期腳本相互作用有點討厭，喜歡它的舞曲。
Miposaur的許多情緒
該機器人還具有多變的情緒，包括激動，心煩意亂，或好奇，這都基于通過應(yīng)用程序或軌跡球給它的交互類型 - 例如目前喂養(yǎng)它。這些線索是比較明顯的使用的應(yīng)用程序，其中的意境突出地顯示出來時，但是Miposaur會抱怨，咆哮，別激動，并騰躍了一下，這取決于它是如何感覺。

然而，短暫的情緒不會影響發(fā)揮多大。迪諾確實與它的球和手勢取決于它的情緒互動方式不同，但我們發(fā)現(xiàn)，用戶，尤其是孩子，可以實現(xiàn)他們甚至都在這樣做之前不夠迅速改變其情緒和思念他們得到反饋。如果你不喜歡的電子雞風(fēng)格演變的性格，我們建議你使用的應(yīng)用程序，以獲得更多的反饋和了解的相互作用是相對短暫的。
建立
的設(shè)置是簡單的與這兩個設(shè)備讓他們正在進行一個簡單的通/斷開關(guān)。該應(yīng)用程序通過藍牙LE連接，我們沒有有一個問題，創(chuàng)建連接。但是，如果你有一個以上的MIP或Miposaur，你將需要支付到你連接的關(guān)注。雖然MIP都有自己的應(yīng)用程序，它仍然可以與恐龍的應(yīng)用程序連接以及減去它的一些功能。

大而重的恐龍使用四節(jié)AA電池和球有四個腹主動脈瘤。我們在一組的打法了幾個小時通過了，最后需要更換他們當(dāng)固件更新需要更多的電池壽命。當(dāng)電池得到低，機器人確實變得有些顫抖或呆滯。

WowWee公司確實使用固件更新來改變機器人本身，需要應(yīng)用程序來安裝更新。雖然我們測試的Miposaur我們收到了一個固件更新，并在Android上一個應(yīng)用程序更新。

Miposaur應(yīng)用程序增加了更多的游戲方式
與原來MIP，免費的應(yīng)用程序是真正帶出了Miposaur的魅力。互動與軌跡球覺得有點照本宣科相比應(yīng)用程序。例如，恐龍可以使用軌跡球時只跳舞自身預(yù)先記錄的玩具般的音樂，但是用戶可以通過該應(yīng)用挑選任何音樂文件和一個風(fēng)格看到Miposaur與節(jié)拍響應(yīng)于同步。

該應(yīng)用程序還允許Miposaur變成一個普通無線電控制（RC）的車輛。迪諾行為有所不同，當(dāng)用戶的控制，果然碰撞檢測斷下。這種模式還突出均衡和休息，用一個按鈕在兩者之間切換之間的差別。休息時，該恐龍是狼狽逃竄，并試圖推動會看到它只能笨拙地操縱在圈子里，但這個位置是很好的拍照，休息，或冒充。

然而，在RC模式下，一旦平衡恐龍的控制是反應(yīng)靈敏，準(zhǔn)確，迪諾很快。什么是更令人驚訝的是，把一個很好的協(xié)議在它的尾巴或鼻子的壓力，為了給小費它只是使害羞了。這是非常困難的小費這件事情上完全有力量。

與原來的MIP相互作用
一個實用的功能的Miposaur的是，MIP Android和恐龍可以在戰(zhàn)斗中面臨關(guān)閉。兩者都需要通過與相應(yīng)的應(yīng)用程序，用戶可以控制，但戰(zhàn)斗是相當(dāng)不錯功能。用戶可以訪問到RC的控制，并且該恐龍有幾個不同的攻擊，但沒有能力以接通相機以允許用戶排隊拍攝作為MIP是能夠做到的。

戰(zhàn)役的長度取決于參與者的駕駛能力和多少空間，他們有導(dǎo)航。我戰(zhàn)斗了大約五分鐘，變得更短，更有趣的司機得到了更好地與RC控制導(dǎo)航（居委控件響應(yīng)流暢，司機沒有這么多）。

戰(zhàn)斗主要虛擬像游戲激光標(biāo)記的，與命中被經(jīng)由機器人的聲音效果和操作，并還通過在應(yīng)用程序的影響的認可。迪諾具有物理“尾巴掃”的攻擊，可以敲倒霉的MIP在地上，突出再次恐龍和它的前輩之間的一個有趣的差異。迪諾字面上不能翻倒，而MIP同時更加脆弱又勇敢似乎。對不起，是我們anthropomorphizing了嗎？

你想在Miposaur如果...
眼下，Miposaur是擺在我的客廳里，它的新穎性已呼吁houseguests的幾組。它的自我平衡的行為，絕對是一個獨特的人群取悅。

無論是其新穎性開發(fā)出更持久的吸引力部分地取決于WowWee公司。該公司有兩個承諾的方式來未來的應(yīng)用程序的更新，將提供一本故事書模式和Mipohunt，這似乎是一個虛擬的尋寶游戲。雖然Miposaur相對便宜，應(yīng)用程序似乎是WowWee公司，以確保人民群眾不斷找到一個理由來打開恐龍回來的最佳途徑。

我們發(fā)現(xiàn)，6-10歲年齡組是一個甜蜜點，那里的孩子們年輕，足以被愚蠢的相互作用被受理，但年紀(jì)尚幼，導(dǎo)航有足夠靈巧的應(yīng)用程序來進行戰(zhàn)斗和RC模式。不過，你不用擔(dān)心，年輕的孩子們將打破堅固的恐龍，他們很可能將與軌跡球的直觀搞。

對于成年人，我們發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不知道什么時候制造商界和商業(yè)玩具市場將重疊足以讓貨架上的可編程玩具。在Miposaur的API將是驚人的，并會確保它被轉(zhuǎn)移到玩具箱的底部之前沒有玩過幾次。但是，我們還沒有看到任何東西比得上它的平衡運動，有時我們發(fā)現(xiàn)自己忽視了其額外的功能，只需看它移動。在這個意義上，按揭保險計劃，其重點是如何平衡，可能更多的是玩具的成年人和恐龍與孩子們一個贏家。

總體來看，恐龍的最好的借鑒是模式，允許一定的創(chuàng)造性和再利用，如作戰(zhàn)，遠程控制，通過App跳舞，看著Miposaur無休止地追逐它的球。我們停滯對夫婦更多的腳本模式和不興奮的聲音效果，特別是與即將到來的應(yīng)用程序更新，有可能是適合每個人的Miposaur。

該Miposaur零售價為US $ 119.99。